Transcript Highlights:

• Uh but this is a very useful tool uh that is intended to offer flexibility with respect to development
• And the idea is that in exchange for that flexibility, the developer uh is expected to offer a higher
• <00:03:00.640> with intended to offer flexibility with intended to offer flexibility with
• <00:03:22.800> or would be uh additional flexibility or would be uh additional flexibility
• ,<00:03:30.720> the exchange for that flexibility, the exchange for that flexibility, the

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There's flexibility in how these businesses will implement this. And I ask for a yes vote.
• In addition to purchasing the abortion pill, you also have to train staff.
• pill,<01:36:31.760> you<01:36:32.000> also purchasing the abortion pill, you also purchasing
• <02:03:49.280> You<02:03:49.520> often purchase to sell agreement.
• You often purchase to sell agreement.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Therefore, funding must be as flexible and as quickly applicable as possible.
• for Spreading this money, and as we talked about previously, allowing the flexibility for this money
• We are fully supportive of HB 16 and the flexibility and balance that it proposes.
• House Bill 16 allows the funding from House Joint Resolution 7 to be used in a balanced and flexible
• This flexibility empowers us to drive economic growth, safeguard public health and safety, and elevate

Bills: HB16, HB16, HB1618, HB2692, HB2712, HB2970, HB3609, HB3628

Keywords: judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, water infrastructure, Texas Water Development Board, financial assistance, water supply projects, rural municipalities, water access assessment, aquifer storage, Edwards Aquifer, water injection, environmental regulations, groundwater management, San Antonio River, pollution control

Transcript Highlights:

• They were married on August 5, 1978, and purchased their first home in Mount Vernon, New York.
• children cannot survive on promises; they cannot survive on words, they cannot survive on tweets or on purchase
• ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A BEACON OF LAW AND ORDERER AND If there are some abilities or some measures of flexibility
• And we haven't actually done all the economic effects of does that actually change purchasing behavior
• AND WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY DONE ALL THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF DOES THAT ACTUALLY CHANGE PURCHASING BEHAVIOR

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the local match required and have designed the project with the ability to be phased, ensuring flexibility
• State funds will enable the county to purchase and develop the necessary property for a new site and
• 07:20.720> to State funds will enable the county to State funds will enable the county to purchase
• and<01:07:21.599> develop<01:07:22.000> the<01:07:22.240> necessary purchase
• and develop the necessary purchase and develop the necessary property<01:07:23.359> for<01:07

Bills: HF333, HF2712, HF1064, HF1069, HF1113, HF2207, HF204, HF2867, HF2924, HF746, HF1530, HF2587, HF1078

Keywords: HF333, Duluth, Lot D, redevelopment, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, bond proceeds, public infrastructure, seawall repair, utility connections, demolition, debris removal, transportation improvements, site preparation, soil correction, economic development, DEED, capital appropriation, general obligation bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• [questionable] says he does not really want to get into those specifics because the numbers are flexible
• Yeah, with the two that have already purchased land there, it'll be greater than the loss from the Sherco
• uh, as I understand it, was completed in January of 2023, before, well, certainly before land was purchased
• uh, as I understand it, was completed in January of 2023, before, well, certainly before land was purchased
• uh, as I understand it, was completed in January of 2023, before, well, certainly before land was purchased

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They want to give that more flexibility and make it a little more open-ended so they can go through and
• They want to give that more flexibility and make it a little more open-ended so they can go through and
• They want to give that more flexibility and make it a little more open-ended so they can go through and
• They want to give that more flexibility and make it a little more open-ended so they can go through and
• to try to give that more flexibility to try to give that more flexibility have<00:08:20.680>

Keywords: Roll Call 00:20 Discussion on HB 303 00:45 Vote on HB 303 04:41 Discussion on HB 305 05:32 Vote on HB 305 08:34, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and heard House Bill 303 first. Representative Steve Bratcher explained that the bill would let U.S. military members with medical training transition that experience into Kentucky health-care credentials more quickly. Schools and colleges would evaluate military curricula on an individual basis, identify gaps, and allow those gaps to be filled with additional classes or clinical time before the person sits for the required exam. The bill was described as applying broadly across medical fields, not just nursing, and it would not waive testing or standards. Senators asked whether the process would compare credentials across states and whether the bill covered only U.S. military service; Bratcher said evaluations would be individualized and the bill was primarily for those who served in the U.S. military. HB 303 received an 11-0 favorable vote. The committee then took up House Bill 305, presented by Representative Ken Fleming. He said the committee substitute would expand an existing health-care workforce award program to include dietitians and physician assistants, clarify that certain EMS-related services may be owned or operated by a hospital rather than only owned by one, and provide more flexibility around licensing timelines after a certificate of need is issued by the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services. After a motion and second, the committee voted unanimously to amend and pass HB 305 with favorable expression. A title amendment was also adopted unanimously. Before adjournment, the chair noted that the next regular meeting was scheduled for March 12 and warned that a special-called meeting might be needed the following Monday because of bills arriving from the House. No further business was taken up, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:53.560> in<00:10:53.680> our are seeking more flexibility in our are seeking
• more flexibility in our school<00:10:54.120> calendar<00:10:54.519> to<00:10:54.639>
• Without legislative flexibility, we may be forced to return to a post-Labor Day start despite having
• <00:17:20.280> is staff while this flexibility is staff while this flexibility is beneficial
• <01:13:38.400> and needs to be diverse flexible and needs to be diverse flexible and responsive

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the other thing I really want to hit on is the flexibility.
• But that, again, goes back to the flexibility. It's what makes it unique.
• Basically, what I'm hearing is that there is a lot of flexibility and there's a lot of collaboration
• But there are different ways for you to be a little flexible and creative in how the apprentices can
• But there are different ways for you to be a little flexible and creative in how the apprentices can

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Workforce Support Subcommittee met to discuss using registered apprenticeships to help address workforce shortages in disability services, human services, and other high-need fields. Co-chairs and staff introduced the session as a follow-up to earlier discussions with state labor officials and representatives from developmental disability and behavioral health provider associations. The panel focused on how apprenticeships can create paid, structured pathways into jobs while also supporting credentialing and retention. Amara Ramon of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards explained how Massachusetts apprenticeship programs are registered and supported, including the roles of apprenticeship liaison staff, operations, quality assurance, and grant support. She described the core features of apprenticeships—paid on-the-job training, related technical instruction, wage progression, and industry credentials—and contrasted them with internships or co-ops. Melissa Chabelli of the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board described the intermediary role her board plays in designing programs, registering apprentices, coordinating employers, and handling compliance. She emphasized flexibility, employer investment, tax credits, retention benefits, and the importance of mentors and local workforce partnerships. Lisa Morris of UMass Chan/For Health Consulting described a developing apprenticeship for medical interpreters, built from an existing training foundation and designed to address the gap between classroom preparation and work experience. She said the model would combine pre-apprenticeship training, employer interviews, 2,000 hours of apprenticeship, and related technical instruction tied to national certification. Speakers also discussed examples for nursing, early childhood education, CNC machining, and programs serving neurodivergent learners, including Bridgewater State’s Excel program. In response to audience questions, panelists said state agencies can serve as intermediaries, recruitment can come through career centers, youth programs, community colleges, ESL centers, and incumbent workers, and accommodations or modified curricula can support apprentices with disabilities. No votes were taken; the session ended with encouragement for attendees to contact the presenters and Division of Apprenticeship Standards for help developing programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I think it's just allowing that flexibility to look at a building and say this no longer functions
• And we need to have that flexibility to be able to do that without the typical blight findings that the
• that flexibility to look at<00:04:17.680> a<00:04:18.079> a<00:04:18.560> a<00:
• And we need to<00:04:31.759> have<00:04:31.840> that<00:04:32.080> flexibility<00
• to be able to to have that flexibility to be able to do<00:04:33.360> that<00:04:33.759> um

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you have three or four entities doing their own rides, and you have the county-based purchasers.
• > county-based rides, and you have the county-based rides, and you have the county-based purchasers
• 31:00.280> does<00:31:00.520> it<00:31:01.040> kind<00:31:01.200> of purchasers
• Everybody does it kind of purchasers.
• PrimeWest Health is a county-based purchasing health plan that serves approximately 75,000 individuals

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met on March 2 and approved the February 23 minutes after a quorum was reached. The main presentation was from the Department of Human Services on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), a federally required Medicaid benefit that helps Minnesota Health Care Program enrollees get to medically necessary appointments. DHS said the program served more than 250,000 people in 2025 at a cost of $127 million, with participation up about 14% over five years, and described the seven transportation modes, provider enrollment requirements, STS certification, background checks, prior authorization rules, and planned transitions to a single administrator for parts of the program in 2026 and 2027. DHS officials emphasized fraud prevention efforts, saying NEMT is one of the agency’s high-risk Medicaid services. They described enhanced prepayment review, provider revalidation and site visits, removal of inactive providers, and a provider moratorium in metro counties. Inspector General James Clark said the governor’s anti-fraud proposal would add pre-enrollment risk assessments, more staffing and technology, and electronic visit verification. He also noted that about 80% of NEMT spending is in managed care and that managed care organizations have their own compliance and special investigations units. Committee members raised concerns about fraud, oversight, and privatization. Chair Robbins questioned DHS about the absence of the commissioner and the program’s use of brokers, citing past concerns and asking about the vendor MTM’s history; DHS said the RFP for the new broker had closed and the vendor selection was still underway. Representative Pinto questioned why oversight is outsourced to managed care organizations and suggested bringing more oversight back in house. MTM representative Phil Stahlberger defended the company’s record, said the Missouri dispute was about contract terms from about 15 years ago, and said MTM currently works in Minnesota counties and many other states, with on-site reviews, trip verification, and complaint review processes. No further votes or final actions on the NEMT policy were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This looks like this puts some additional, maybe, flexibility by the same token, trying to ensure this
• We purchase guardianship services, so we pay fully for a guardianship. It's a little complex.
• We um<01:02:19.119> purchase<01:02:19.520> guardianship<01:02:20.160> services.
• <01:02:20.720> So<01:02:20.880> we um purchase guardianship services.
• So we um purchase guardianship services.

Bills: HB0101, HB0062, HB0109

Keywords: guardianship, monitoring, ward protection, financial independence, case management, governmental claims, liability limits, inflation adjustment, public safety, local government insurance, property tax, tax exemption, homeowner, armed forces, residency requirement, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:38.959> there<00:15:39.399> and having some flexibility there and having some
• flexibility there and looking<00:15:40.160> at<00:15:40.440> that<00:15:40.759> uh<
• We would ask for continued flexibility in out-of-field permissions.
• <01:09:06.159> rather perceived ease or flexibility rather perceived ease or flexibility rather
• <01:31:49.040> for article three we provide flexibility for article three we provide flexibility

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Policy Committee approved the minutes from January 21, 2025, and then heard testimony from several school superintendents about the financial and operational impact of recent education-related mandates. Chair Bennett framed the hearing as an opportunity to hear from districts about the effects of more than 65 new mandates and restrictions adopted in recent years. The first witnesses were Corey McIntyre of Anoka-Hennepin, Michael Thomas of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, and David Law of Minnetonka Public Schools. The superintendents said districts are facing rising costs, flat or declining enrollment, the end of federal pandemic aid, and mandates they described as unfunded or underfunded. McIntyre cited major budget cuts in Anoka-Hennepin, including reductions in central office staff, and said the district faces continuing shortfalls tied to special education, multilingual learner costs, unemployment claims, paid leave, transportation, literacy materials, and the K-3 discipline statute. Thomas said Prior Lake-Savage is balancing growing student needs against limited revenue, and argued that mandates such as REACT and other requirements should be delayed or better funded so districts can implement them with fidelity. Law said the concerns are statewide, not just metro-based, and criticized the accumulation of expectations around food service, mental health, sick and safe time, unemployment, and family leave without corresponding resources. Several witnesses emphasized that school budgets are heavily committed to staff costs and that new obligations create administrative burdens as well as direct expenses. They urged lawmakers to reduce, delay, or better fund mandates, adjust timelines, and provide more flexibility in local revenue tools and equalization aid. No votes were taken on legislation during this portion of the meeting beyond approval of the prior day’s minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Anchored in state priorities defined by the Legislature, local flexibility, community engagement, and
• Third, all of this sits inside the larger balance between local control and flexibility on one side,
• There is a desire given that there's more flexibility now, for example, an ELOP, more flexibility in
• In Lindsay, we leaned into that flexibility.
• We were willing to lean into that flexibility because our context allows it.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on coherence in California’s education planning and reporting systems, especially the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and related grant plans. Committee chairs and members described widespread frustration with duplicative, lengthy, and sometimes conflicting reporting requirements, while emphasizing that the goal was not to reduce accountability but to make planning more useful, stable, and student-centered. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond also previewed the Governor’s education budget priorities, including expanded learning, community schools, universal transitional kindergarten, literacy supports, and concerns about the proposed Prop. 98 deferral. Panelists from the State Board of Education, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office said the LCAP was intended to balance local flexibility with statewide transparency, but has become overloaded by repeated revisions and additional requirements. They argued for fewer core reporting elements, more stability over time, better alignment of planning cycles, and integrated systems that reduce duplication. Fresno County staff described a multi-year calendar and support tools that help districts manage timelines, but said these tools only ease the burden rather than solve the underlying problem. The LAO noted that some newer plans, such as expanded learning and transportation plans, are narrative-heavy and often less informative than separate reporting requirements. Local district leaders and county officials described the practical effects of the current system: staff time diverted from instruction, multiple portals and forms, audit risk aversion, and planning documents that can exceed 100 pages. Several superintendents said coherent systems work best when districts have clear priorities, stable governance, and aligned budgets, and when state requirements are predictable and tied to outcomes like literacy, attendance, and student achievement. The California Federation of Teachers added that coherence also depends on meaningful collaboration with educators, classified staff, parents, and communities. Committee members repeatedly asked whether the state should streamline reporting, create a uniform portal, or develop a more unified grant-reporting structure, and Thurmond said the department was piloting a simplified common form and was willing to work with the Legislature and districts on broader solutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• flexible.
• It is a relatively flexible categorical or block grant, but it is not completely flexible.
• It’s very wide-ranging, but it’s not 100% flexible in our view.
• The recent $60 million carve-out for nursing has reduced our flexibility.
• Strong Workforce funding is effective because it is flexible, regionally driven, and responsive.

Summary: The committee heard an overview of the California Community Colleges budget proposal, including Proposition 98 funding, a 2.41% COLA for apportionments, enrollment growth funding, repayment of an apportionment deferral, and one-time investments for a student support block grant and deferred maintenance. The Department of Finance described the Governor’s package as providing significant new resources, while the LAO recommended prioritizing COLA and enrollment growth within available funds but raised concerns about some smaller proposals, including making the Healthy School Food Pathways Program ongoing and adding more funding for credit for prior learning before outcomes are known. The Chancellor’s Office supported the COLA, enrollment growth, and one-time investments, and said current projections suggest enrollment growth closer to 3%, with about $85 million to $90 million in ongoing costs if fully funded. Members focused heavily on enrollment growth, the 10% district cap, and whether the state should continue funding growth in the current year and budget year. The Chancellor’s Office said some districts, especially in the Inland Empire and Central Valley, are growing rapidly and that about seven districts are above the cap, with roughly 1,563 FTES and about $30 million in ongoing costs tied to that issue. Members also discussed hold-harmless districts and whether declining campuses should be required to produce turnaround or right-sizing plans. The Chancellor’s Office said districts are already having local conversations and that state funding provides time to adjust, but no formal plan requirement was proposed. The committee then took up common course numbering, where the Chancellor’s Office said all 115 community colleges have implemented the first phase and more than 550,000 students enrolled in the first six commonly numbered courses. The office argued that CCN improves clarity but does not yet guarantee that credits will transfer with full value across UC and CSU, because articulation is still handled campus by campus and can require more than 3,500 separate reviews. Members expressed concern that students can still be forced to retake courses such as calculus or ethnic studies even when they have the same common number, and urged the systems to develop a stronger statewide articulation mechanism tied to outcomes and transparency. The item was left open. Finally, the committee heard the Governor’s proposal to make Calbright College’s funding ongoing at $53.1 million. The LAO recommended instead transitioning Calbright to the student-centered funding formula, with one-time bridge funding in the meantime, arguing the Governor’s proposal lacks a clear enrollment-based rationale and performance expectations. Calbright’s leadership defended the college’s competency-based, flexible model for adult learners, citing more than 6,800 students served, over 2,200 certificates awarded, and wage gains for graduates; they said enrollment is expected to grow from about 7,000 students now to roughly 8,000 to 9,000 next year and around 10,000 over the next couple of years. Members pressed for clearer enrollment and funding data before deciding how Calbright should be funded going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, it allows us to have more flexibility with the movement of funds.
• But in the future, we're talking about how we have waiver flexibilities, as in number four, where you
• Again, it allows us to have more flexibility with the movement of funds.
• needs, are highest, we would have the flexibility to do so.
• And then you may wonder on number seven, right, 14 youth program elements flexibility.

Summary: The meeting focused on Arkansas’s proposed workforce system overhaul, including a combined WIOA/Perkins state plan and a package of federal waiver requests intended to consolidate workforce governance, reduce administrative costs, and redirect more funding to training and supportive services. Commerce officials said the plan would replace the current structure of 10 local workforce boards and more than 200 board members with a single statewide board and one administrative entity, while keeping local offices open and using regional business councils to preserve employer and local input. They said the state has already reduced Commerce headcount and operating costs, and that the changes would improve coordination with higher education, adult education, vocational rehabilitation, DHS, and Arkansas Industry Connect. Much of the discussion centered on the waiver package, especially the proposal to make the state board function as the local board, allow more flexible movement of funds across regions, eliminate the WIOA “last dollar” requirement for training and supportive services, create affiliate sites instead of requiring every area to maintain a comprehensive center, and relax the 14 youth program element requirement. Officials said the State Board of Workforce Development approved the waiver package 11-3 before it was submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, and that implementation would begin only after federal approval and a closeout process, likely taking up to a year. They also described plans to streamline referrals and data sharing, expand mobile and virtual services, and use a more centralized model to improve customer service and employer engagement. Members raised repeated concerns about rural representation, local control, board composition, and whether jobs and relationships would be lost if local boards were eliminated. Commerce officials responded that local offices would remain open, some current staff could be rehired by the state, and regional business councils would help ensure local employer voice. Several members also questioned how the funding was being used, citing audit findings that only about $1.8 million to $1.9 million of roughly $14 million to $15 million in federal workforce funds had gone to training and supportive services. Officials said the reorganization could increase annual training spending to roughly $6 million to $7 million by reducing overhead, one-stop operator contracts, and board administration. The committee also discussed how the changes might support workforce training facilities, apprenticeships, child care and transportation assistance, and employer-driven training in fields such as manufacturing, health care, technology, and welding. The Division of Higher Education also briefed members on Workforce Pell. Officials explained that the new federal program would extend Pell eligibility to short-term programs, but only within narrow limits, such as 150 to 599 clock hours and 8 to 15 weeks of instruction, with additional completion and employment benchmarks. They said Arkansas is working with colleges and universities to identify programs that fit the criteria and that the governor has designated the Division of Higher Education to lead implementation. No votes were taken by the committee during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And from there, we have given them that flexibility for the last couple of years.
• They have had that flexibility for the last couple of years.
• Would you think it would be a good thing for the state to give you more flexibility in that regard?
• I think flexibility is useful, yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• I think flexibility is useful, yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education received a presentation from the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget and the Department of Education on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-27 education budget. Shelby Salmons outlined the overall budget framework, and Commissioner Stasi Kamoutsis highlighted major education investments, including $486 million for VPK, $30.6 billion for K-12 education, a $761.1 million increase in FEFP funding, the highest per-student funding level to date, and $201 million more for teacher pay flexibility. The presentation also emphasized school safety, mental health, civics education, and the Guardian Program, along with continued funding for TEACH, HIPPY, Help Me Grow, and civics debate and literacy initiatives. Members asked about how the mental health allocation would be used, counselor staffing ratios, school closures and whether the department intervenes, oversight of school choice and voucher-funded schools, and the Guardian Program’s pay structure and effectiveness. Senators also raised concerns about the FISH school capacity report, data collection, teacher pay, professional development, AI and tutoring technology, and whether the budget adequately supports mental health services and school safety. The Commissioner said many funding decisions are left to districts, that the department stands ready to assist, and that the Guardian Program has been successful and expanded over time. During public testimony, Pinellas County School Board member Laura Hine said her district spends far more on safety and mental health than it receives in state categorical funding, and urged the committee to consider full-day VPK funding, arguing it has improved third-grade reading outcomes in Pinellas. Senators followed up on district flexibility and local spending choices. The committee took no substantive vote on the budget presentation and adjourned after thanking the department for its recommendations and partnership.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our utilities simply need more flexibility. to manage non-critical large loads at transmission level
• I'll use the word avoided by flexible loads.
• And SB 7 and 4CP never even contemplated flexible load.
• And that loads that have flexibility, if we can use that flexibility in modeling and in doing our reporting
• What this does is it creates a construct of flexible loads that then...

Bills: SB 6, SB6, SB504, SB765, SB815, SB929

Keywords: hemp, consumable hemp, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, cannabidiol, CBG, cannabigerol, delta-8, delta-9, intoxicating hemp, hemp gummies, hemp vape, edibles, cannabinoid regulation, hemp licensing, retailer registration, product registration, QR code labeling, child-resistant packaging, minor access

Transcript Highlights:

• We try to allow flexibility where we can to keep staff motivated, but feedback from teachers cite that
• where we can to keep stuff flexibility where we can to keep stuff motivated<00:14:01.480> but
• Further, we're looking for some flexibilities and some other options.
• and some other options flexibilities and some other options you've<00:42:21.680> heard<00:42:
• We just heard from them that they need that flexibility.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will set regulation standards mandatory for our student safety as well as allow for flexibility
• c><02:33:34.160> as<02:33:34.640> allow<02:33:35.040> for<02:33:35.280> flexibility
• safety as well as allow for flexibility safety as well as allow for flexibility within<02:33:36.640
• local actually be able to contract with local growers<02:40:37.439> and<02:40:38.000> purchase
• I'm delighted to tell you that the tombstone has been designed, purchased, and placed.

Keywords: 958, all